5 Most Common Types of Forklifts

At Breakaway we offer a variety of jobs operating forklifts. There are many different types of lifts that are used in the Transportation and Logistics industry and we fill positions working with all different kinds of machinery.

Whether you are someone new to the industry with no experience operating forklifts, a forklift operator looking to become certified on other lifts, or you work in a facility that uses forklifts but don’t really know too much about those machines you see zipping around, we want to keep you informed.

We’ve put together a quick guide to help you navigate the 5 most common types of lifts you may encounter.

Counterbalance Lift

The Counterbalance is the most common type of forklift. This type of lift has its forks at the front of the machine and is designed with a weight in the back to offset or counter the balance of the load on the front. This lift is fairly simple to use as it has no extended arms therefore you can drive right up to the load or racking. The Counterbalance is available in electric, propane, or diesel.

Reach Lift

The Reach is often used for warehouse operations. This type of machine is not often used outside but is mainly used for indoor work. The Reach can reach beyond the machine and into the racking with ease using its forks and stabilizing legs. This offers height that many other forklifts cannot achieve. The legs offer support to the machine therefore making any weight to counter balance the lift unnecessary. Double Reach machines are also sometimes used. A Double Reach lift has extended forks that are able to reach twice as deep as standard forks and can grab two pallets from the same racking.

Walkie Truck

Also known as an Electric Pallet Truck, Walkies are designed to have the operator walk behind the truck. The machine is motorized and is therefore able to lift heavier pallets, maneuver in small spaces, and move all pallets more efficiently. These lifts are controlled using a hand throttle giving the operator the ability to move them forward and backward, as well as stop the machine quickly. There are a variety of different types of walkies, some of which have a platform for the operator to stand on. There are also Double Walkie trucks which have extended forks allowing operators to transport two pallets at once.

Cherry Picker/Order Picker

The Cherry Picker is most commonly used in warehouse environments to pick orders. This type of lift can also be referred to as an Order Picker and can be a company’s best tool for efficient order picking. This machine allows the operator to raise and lower themselves while still operating the truck.

Dockstocker Lift

A Dockstocker is a type of counterbalanced truck in which the operator can either sit down or stand up while operating the machine. This lift is weighed down in the same fashion as the Counterbalance with weight in the back of the lift to counter the load on the forks at the front.

These 5 lifts are the most commonly used forklifts in the warehousing and transportation industry. Jobs with Breakaway could require use of one or all of these lifts. For a list of our current job openings visit our website at www.breakawaystaffing.ca.